Aviat Aircraft INC A-1B accident near Gulkana, Alaska, September 3, 2009
On September 3, 2009 at about 8:08 pm local time, a Aviat Aircraft INC A-1B, registered N37HY, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Gulkana, Alaska. It was a public-use flight (federal) under public-use (government) rules. No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's excessive use of brakes during an off-airport landing, resulting in the airplane nosing over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 3, 2009 · about 8:08 pm local time
- Place
- Gulkana, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Aircraft INC A-1B · all A-1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N37HY · registry record · serial 2037
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Public-use flight (federal) · public-use (government) rules
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was on a federal public use wildlife surveillance flight under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot reported that while landing at an off-airport site he applied the brakes too hard and the airplane nosed over. He reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies, and that the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wing lift struts, the vertical stabilizer, and the tops of the wings.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Braking capability › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Sloped/uneven › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,700 hours in all; 1,350 in this make and model; 1,600 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 30, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,311 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 27, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1D (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: United States Department Of Interior
The flight
- Departed from: GKN Gulkana AK at 2:36 pm
- Destination: Gulkana AK
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 6 knots, gusting 8
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 18,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from PAGK, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.